US9516705B2 - Illumination device - Google Patents

Illumination device Download PDF

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US9516705B2
US9516705B2 US13/697,687 US201113697687A US9516705B2 US 9516705 B2 US9516705 B2 US 9516705B2 US 201113697687 A US201113697687 A US 201113697687A US 9516705 B2 US9516705 B2 US 9516705B2
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light
light emission
luminance variation
electrode layer
spatial frequency
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US20130058086A1 (en
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Toshitsugu Yamamoto
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Merck Patent GmbH
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Konica Minolta Inc
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B44/00—Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources
    • H05B33/08—
    • H01L2251/5361—

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  • the present invention relates to an illumination device that performs surface light emission.
  • a light-emitting device also called an organic EL device
  • organic electroluminescence organic electroluminescence
  • the organic EL device includes a structure in which an organic light emission layer is interposed between two electrodes (an anode electrode and a cathode electrode). As the area of the organic EL device increases, the likelihood of causing non-uniformity in the thickness of the organic light emission layer during a manufacturing process, or the like, increases. As a result, when the organic EL device emits light, non-uniform luminance, or the like, is exhibited, which may undesirably make a user perceive unevenness in the light emission (also referred to as uneven light emission). Such uneven light emission may also occur due to degradation of the organic light emission layer, or the like, that is caused in accordance with conditions under which the organic EL device is used.
  • the organic EL device fulfills functions required as an illumination device, as long as a variation in the luminance during light emission falls within a predetermined range. However, if the user perceives a certain level of uneven light emission due to the variation in the luminance, the quality level of the organic EL device as an illumination device is impaired.
  • the present invention is made in view of the problem described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device in which uneven light emission that a user may perceive is suppressed.
  • an illumination device includes: a power feeding portion; and a surface light emitter including a light-emitting surface configured to emit light in accordance with a voltage applied by the power feeding portion and to cause light emission in the shape of a surface, wherein the surface light emitter emits light which generates a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude.
  • An illumination device is the illumination device according to the first aspect, wherein in the luminance variation, increase and decrease in luminance are repeated five times or more and twenty times or less per viewing angle of 1°.
  • An illumination device is the illumination device according to the first aspect, wherein the luminance variation is generated by superimposition of a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude and occurring in a first direction and a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude and occurring in a second direction different from the first direction.
  • An illumination device is the illumination device according to the first aspects, wherein the luminance variation generated by the surface light emitter is generated by superimposition of a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude and a first spatial frequency and a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude and a second spatial frequency different from the first spatial frequency.
  • An illumination device is the illumination device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the luminance variation generated by the surface light emitter includes a spatially periodic luminance variation in accordance with at least one of a triangular wave and a square wave having a substantially constant amplitude.
  • An illumination device is the illumination device according to the first aspect, wherein: the surface light emitter includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a light emission layer interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; and the thickness of the light emission layer has a spatially periodic variation having a substantially constant amplitude.
  • An illumination device is the illumination device according to the first aspect, wherein: the surface light emitter is structured such that a plurality of light emission units are arranged in parallel at least in one direction, each of the plurality of light emission units including a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a light emission layer interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; in each pair of light emission units neighboring each other in the one direction among the plurality of light emission units, a first one end portion of the first electrode layer included in one light emission unit is electrically connected to a second one end portion of the second electrode layer included in the other light emission unit; in accordance with voltage application to the surface light emitter by the power feeding portion, a voltage is applied between the first one end portion of the first electrode layer and the second one end portion of the second electrode layer in each of the light emission units; and in each of the light emission units, the electrical resistance of the first electrode layer in the one direction is higher than the electrical resistance of the second electrode layer in the one direction.
  • An illumination device is the illumination device according to the first aspect, wherein: the surface light emitter includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a light emission layer interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; the power feeding portion includes a plurality of wirings that are provided in a spatially periodic manner and that are electrically connected to the first electrode layer, and the power feeding portion applies a voltage between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer through the plurality of wirings; and the electrical resistance of the first electrode layer in a direction parallel to a main surface thereof is higher than the electrical resistance of the second electrode layer in a direction parallel to a main surface thereof.
  • An illumination device is the illumination device according to the first aspect, wherein: the surface light emitter includes a transparent base plate, a first electrode layer, a light emission layer, and a second electrode layer, and the first electrode layer, the light emission layer, and the second electrode layer are sequentially laminated on the transparent base plate; and a spatially periodic pattern is provided to the transparent base plate.
  • An illumination device is the illumination device according to the first aspect, wherein: the surface light emitter includes a transparent base plate, a first electrode layer, a light emission layer, and a second electrode layer, and the first electrode layer, the light emission layer, and the second electrode layer are sequentially laminated on the transparent base plate; and spatially periodic concavities and convexities are provided to the transparent base plate.
  • the presence of the spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude can suppress uneven light emission that a user may perceive.
  • the uneven light emission that the user may perceive can be efficiently suppressed.
  • the uneven light emission that the user may perceive can be further suppressed.
  • the uneven light emission that the user may perceive can be suppressed with a relatively simple configuration.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an outline configuration of an illumination device according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an exemplary configuration of a surface light emitter according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a luminance variation of the surface light emitter according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing conditions of an experiment performed in order to obtain the relationship between a luminance variation and uneven light emission.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the conditions of the experiment performed in order to obtain the relationship between a luminance variation and uneven light emission.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship of the amplitude and the spatial frequency relative to the sensitivity in a luminance variation.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing conditions of an experiment performed in order to obtain an influence exerted on the sensitivity to one luminance variation by another luminance variation.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an influence exerted on the sensitivity to one luminance variation by another luminance variation.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the spatial frequency of a luminance variation and the coefficient of a masking effect.
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between a lower limit value of the amplitude and the spatial frequency of a luminance variation that causes a perception of uneven light emission.
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the lower limit value of the amplitude of the luminance variation that causes a perception of uneven light emission and the amplitude of a luminance variation that is superimposed.
  • FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing an exemplary configuration of a surface light emitter according to a first modification.
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a luminance variation occurring in the surface light emitter according to the first modification.
  • FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing an exemplary configuration of a surface light emitter according to a second modification.
  • FIG. 15 is a plan view showing an exemplary configuration of a power feeding portion according to the second modification.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a luminance variation occurring in the surface light emitter according to the second modification.
  • FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing an exemplary configuration of a surface light emitter according to a third modification.
  • FIG. 18 is a bottom view showing the exemplary configuration of the surface light emitter according to the third modification.
  • FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing an exemplary configuration of a surface light emitter according to a fourth modification.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an outline configuration of an illumination device 1 according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 additionally shows a left-handed XYZ coordinate system whose XY plane defines a plane extending in parallel with a part (also referred to as a light-emitting surface) of the illumination device 1 that causes light emission in the shape of a surface.
  • a part also referred to as a light-emitting surface
  • FIG. 2 and subsequent Figures for the purpose of clarifying a directional relationship, one or more axes corresponding to any of the three XYZ axes shown in FIG. 1 are provided as necessary.
  • the illumination device 1 includes a surface light emitter 10 and power feeding portions 21 and 22 .
  • the surface light emitter 10 includes a transparent base plate 11 , a lower electrode layer 12 , a light emission layer 13 , and an upper electrode layer 14 .
  • the lower electrode layer 12 , the light emission layer 13 , and the upper electrode layer 14 are laminated in the mentioned order and in spatial sequence on the transparent base plate 11 .
  • the lamination of the lower electrode layer 12 , the light emission layer 13 , and the upper electrode layer 14 on the transparent base plate 11 may be performed through, for example, any of a vapor-deposition process, a sputtering process, and a coating process.
  • the transparent base plate 11 is a base plate having a flat plate shape that allows a visible light beam to transmit therethrough, and comprised of, for example glass.
  • the lower electrode layer 12 is a conductive layer that allows a visible light beam to transmit therethrough, and comprised of, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO).
  • ITO indium tin oxide
  • the upper electrode layer 14 is a conductive layer comprised of, for example, molybdenum or silver, and configured to reflect light emitted by the light emission layer 13 .
  • the light emission layer 13 is a layer configured to emit light when a voltage is applied between the lower electrode layer 12 and the upper electrode layer 14 , and comprised of, for example, a luminescent material such as a high-polymer material or a low-polymer material.
  • a luminescent material such as a high-polymer material or a low-polymer material.
  • an electrode of one of the lower electrode layer 12 and the upper electrode layer 14 injects electrons into the light emission layer 13 while an electrode of the other injects holes into the light emission layer 13 .
  • the electrons and the holes are combined in the light emission layer 13 , thereby causing light emission.
  • the power feeding portions 21 and 22 are comprised of a good conductor such as copper.
  • the power feeding portion 21 is electrically connected to the lower electrode layer 12
  • the power feeding portion 22 is electrically connected to the upper electrode layer 14 .
  • a power supply 2 and a switch 3 are electrically connected in sequence.
  • the power supply 2 and the power feeding portion 22 are not electrically connected, so that the power supply 2 applies no voltage between the power feeding portion 21 and the power feeding portion 22 .
  • the switch 3 allows a current to flow (also referred to as a closed state)
  • the power supply 2 and the power feeding portion 22 are electrically connected to each other, so that the power supply 2 applies a voltage between the power feeding portion 21 and the power feeding portion 22 .
  • the surface light emitter 10 emits light in the light emission layer 13 , in accordance with the voltage applied by the power supply 2 through the power feeding portions 21 and 22 .
  • the light emitted in the light emission layer 13 transmits sequentially through the lower electrode layer 12 and the transparent base plate 11 and then exits to the outside of the transparent base plate 11 , as indicated by the downward arrows AR 1 in FIG. 1 . That is, the light is emitted from one main surface (also referred to as a light-emitting surface) of the transparent base plate 11 having a plane shape, and consequently the light-emitting surface of the surface light emitter 10 causes light emission in the shape of a surface (here, in the shape of a plane).
  • the surface light emitter 10 when the light emission layer 13 has an uneven thickness, unevenness in luminance occurs in the light-emitting surface, which may undesirably make a user perceive unevenness in light emission (also referred to as uneven light emission). Therefore, the surface light emitter 10 according to this embodiment adopts a structure (also referred to as an uneven-light-emission suppression structure) adapted to suppress uneven light emission perceived by the user.
  • a structure also referred to as an uneven-light-emission suppression structure
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an exemplary configuration of the surface light emitter 10 according to the embodiment.
  • the light emission layer 13 provided between the lower electrode layer 12 and the upper electrode layer 14 has a variation in the thickness thereof, which is spatially periodic with a substantially constant (preferably, constant) amplitude.
  • the thickness direction of the light emission layer 13 is a direction (also referred to as a Z-axis direction) along the Z-axis
  • the light emission layer 13 has a spatially periodic variation in the thickness thereof with a substantially constant amplitude with respect to, as one direction, a direction (also referred to as a X-axis direction) along the X-axis.
  • the substantially constant amplitude may be a predetermined percentage (for example, 40%) of an average value of the thickness of the light emission layer 13 .
  • the thickness may change in the form of a sine wave in accordance with a position change in the X-axis direction.
  • portions in the same position with respect to the X-axis direction may have substantially the same thickness irrespective of their positions with respect to a direction (also referred to as a Y-axis direction) along the Y-axis.
  • Such a variation in the thickness of the light emission layer 13 can be achieved by, for example, forming the light emission layer 13 through a vapor-deposition process or a sputtering process using a metal mask that is shaped in accordance with the spatial periods of the variation in the thickness.
  • the light emission layer 13 includes a spatially periodic structure with a substantially constant amplitude. Accordingly, when the surface light emitter 10 emits light, a variation in luminance, which is spatially periodic with a substantially constant (preferably, constant) amplitude, occurs in the light-emitting surface of the surface light emitter 10 in accordance with the periodic structure of the light emission layer 13 .
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the luminance variation occurring in the light-emitting surface of the surface light emitter 10 .
  • the horizontal axis represents the position with respect to the X direction and the vertical axis represents the luminance.
  • a luminance variation occurring in the light-emitting surface in accordance with a position change with respect to the X direction is indicated by the thick line.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagram showing conditions of an experiment performed in order to obtain the relationship between a luminance variation and uneven light emission.
  • a luminance variation was displayed on a screen of a display unit 30 . What kind of luminance variation was perceived as uneven luminance by an observer 50 viewing the screen was determined Thereby, the relationship between a luminance variation in the light-emitting surface and human perception thereof as uneven light emission was obtained.
  • the display unit 30 included a liquid crystal display screen (when appropriate, abbreviated as a screen) including a number of pixels arrayed in a matrix, and was placed on a desk 20 so that the position and attitude thereof were fixed.
  • the screen was substantially planar and had a rectangular outer edge with a width of 473 mm and a diagonal dimension of 22 inches, in which 1920 pixels were arrayed in the horizontal direction and 1200 pixels were arrayed in the vertical direction.
  • the observer 50 sat on a chair 40 while being opposed in front of the screen, and kept the back and the back of the head in contact with a wall 60 , thereby the position and attitude were held constant.
  • a line segment connecting the centers of gravity of the pupils of both eyes of the observer 50 to each other was substantially in parallel with the horizontal direction of the screen.
  • a line segment connecting a center point 30 ct of the screen to the midpoint of the line segment connecting the centers of gravity of the pupils of both eyes of the observer 50 was substantially coincident with the normal of the screen, and had a length of 1500 mm.
  • the pixel at the upper left of the screen was defined as the origin
  • the rightward direction in the screen was defined as the X direction
  • the downward direction in the screen was defined as the Y direction.
  • a pattern of vertical stripes also referred to as a vertical stripe pattern representing a luminance variation in which the spatial frequency increases along the X direction and the amplitude decreases along the Y direction was displayed on the screen.
  • a region where the luminance exhibits a local minimum value is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line, and a region where the luminance exhibits a local maximum value is indicated by a broken line.
  • the interval of the vertical stripe pattern decreases along the X direction, but the illustration of the vertical stripe pattern is omitted in a portion where the interval of the vertical stripe pattern is too small to be illustrated. Moreover, the illustration of the vertical stripe pattern is also omitted in a portion where the vertical stripe pattern is invisible.
  • the one represented by a sine wave (sign curve) in which a space frequency (also referred to as a spatial frequency) increases along the X direction was adopted.
  • the spatial frequency corresponds to the number of times the increase and decrease in luminance are repeated at a viewing angle of 1° for the observer 50 .
  • the unit thereof is represented by cpd (cycles per degree), which means the number of cycles per 1°.
  • the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern was set to be a fixed multiple of 10 ⁇ X
  • the amplitude of the vertical stripe pattern was set to be a fixed multiple of 10 ⁇ y .
  • Such a vertical stripe pattern was displayed on the screen, and in this state the observer 50 identifies, on the screen, a boundary between a region where the presence of the vertical stripe pattern was visible and a region where it was invisible. Then, a line marking the boundary (also referred to as a boundary line) was added on the screen. In FIG. 5 , the boundary line is indicated by the thick-line curve. The boundary line represents the relationship between the spatial frequency and a visible amplitude.
  • each spatial frequency the inverse of a minimum value of the visible amplitude was obtained as the sensitivity. Furthermore, each sensitivity was divided by a maximum value of sensitivity (also referred to as maximum sensitivity), thus performing normalization. Thereby, comparative sensitivity (also referred to as relative sensitivity) was obtained with respect to each spatial frequency. As a result, a relationship indicated by the thick-line curve in FIG. 6 was obtained as the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern. In FIG. 6 , the horizontal axis represents the spatial frequency, and the vertical axis represents the relative sensitivity.
  • the sensitivity to increase and decrease in luminance varies in accordance with the number of times (spatial frequency) the increase and decrease in luminance are repeated at a viewing angle of 1°.
  • the relative sensitivity reaches its peak when the spatial frequency is in a range of 2 to 6 cpd, and the sensitivity is lost when the spatial frequency is around 100 cpd.
  • a luminance variation with respect to an intermediate spatial frequency here, 2 to 100 cpd
  • a luminance variation with respect to a higher spatial frequency is not visually observed.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing conditions of an experiment performed in order to obtain an influence exerted on the sensitivity to one luminance variation by another luminance variation.
  • the display unit 30 and the observer 50 the same conditions as those shown in FIG. 4 were adopted. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 7 , on the screen of the display unit 30 , the luminance variation shown in FIG. 5 (also referred to as a first luminance variation) was displayed, and furthermore a luminance variation (also referred to as a second luminance variation) different from the first luminance variation was superimposed. Then, the relationship was obtained between a boundary of whether or not the observer 50 viewing the screen perceived the first luminance variation as uneven luminance and the spatial frequency of the second luminance variation.
  • a luminance variation shown in FIG. 5 also referred to as a first luminance variation
  • a luminance variation also referred to as a second luminance variation
  • a pattern of horizontal stripes (also referred to as a horizontal stripe pattern) representing a luminance variation represented by a sine wave was adopted, in which the luminance increases or decreases along the Y direction and which has a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined spatial frequency.
  • FIG. 7 similarly to FIG. 5 , in each of the first and second luminance variations, a region where the luminance exhibits a local minimum value is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line and a region where the luminance exhibits a local maximum value is indicated by a broken line.
  • the illustration of the vertical stripe pattern is omitted in a portion where the interval of the vertical stripe pattern is too small to be illustrated.
  • the illustration of the vertical stripe pattern is also omitted in a portion where the vertical stripe pattern is invisible.
  • the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern ten frequencies, namely, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, and 150 cpd, were sequentially adopted.
  • a constant luminance amplitude was adopted irrespective of a position with respect to the X direction.
  • the constant luminance amplitude a range of 40 cd/m 2 centered at 100 cd/m 2 corresponding to gray was adopted. That is, the luminance of the horizontal stripe pattern was varied in a range of 80 to 120 cd/m 2 .
  • the observer 50 identified, on the screen, a boundary between a region where the presence of the vertical stripe pattern was visible and a region where it was invisible. Then, a line marking the boundary (boundary line) was added on the screen.
  • a line marking the boundary was added on the screen.
  • FIG. 7 an example of the boundary line is indicated by the thick-line curve.
  • the boundary line represents the relationship between the spatial frequency and a visible amplitude.
  • each spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern the inverse of a minimum value of the visible amplitude was obtained as the sensitivity with respect to each spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern. Furthermore, each sensitivity was divided by a maximum value of sensitivity (also referred to as maximum sensitivity) obtained in a case where the horizontal stripe pattern was not superimposed, thus performing normalization. Thereby, relative sensitivity was obtained. As a result, a relationship shown in FIG. 8 was obtained as the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern with respect to each spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern. In FIG. 8 , the horizontal axis represents the spatial frequency, and the vertical axis represents the relative sensitivity.
  • FIG. 8 the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the horizontal stripe pattern shown in FIG. 6 was not superimposed thereon, is indicated by the thick-line curve.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 1 cpd is indicated by “the combination of black circle marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 2 cpd is indicated by “the combination of cross marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 3 cpd is indicated by “the combination of black triangle marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 5 cpd is indicated by “the combination of black diamond marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 10 cpd is indicated by “the combination of black square marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 20 cpd is indicated by “the combination of white circle marks and a thin-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 30 cpd is indicated by “the combination of cross marks and a thin-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 50 cpd is indicated by “the combination of white triangles and a thin-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 100 cpd is indicated by “the combination of white diamond marks and a thin-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency and the relative sensitivity of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 150 cpd is indicated by “the combination of white square marks and a thin-line curve”.
  • the masking effect is obtained not only when a vertical stripe pattern and a horizontal stripe pattern whose spatial frequencies are close to each other are superimposed, but also when a vertical stripe pattern and a horizontal stripe pattern whose spatial frequencies are largely different from each other are superimposed.
  • a luminance variation having a constant amplitude and a constant spatial frequency is perceived as a luminance variation that is intentionally generated.
  • the observer 50 does not perceive it as uneven light emission. Accordingly, in the illumination device 1 , even though uneven luminance occurs due to, for example, an uneven thickness of the light emission layer 13 , which may be caused in a manufacturing process, and conditions of use thereof, a perception of such uneven luminance as uneven light emission can be suppressed by generating an intentional luminance variation.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the spatial frequency and the degree of the masking effect in the vertical stripe pattern with respect to each spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern.
  • the horizontal axis represents the spatial frequency
  • the vertical axis represents the coefficient of the masking effect, which is a numerical value indicating the degree of the masking effect.
  • the coefficient of the masking effect was derived by, with respect to each spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern, dividing the relative sensitivity at each spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the horizontal stripe pattern was not superimposed thereon, by the relative sensitivity at the corresponding spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern obtained in a case where the horizontal stripe pattern was superimposed thereon.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 1 cpd is indicated by “the combination of black circle marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 2 cpd is indicated by “the combination of cross marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 3 cpd is indicated by “the combination of black triangle marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 5 cpd is indicated by “the combination of black diamond marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 10 cpd is indicated by “the combination of black square marks and a solid-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 20 cpd is indicated by “the combination of white circle marks and a thin-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 30 cpd is indicated by “the combination of cross marks and a thin-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 50 cpd is indicated by “the combination of white triangles and a thin-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 100 cpd is indicated by “the combination of white diamond marks and a thin-line curve”.
  • the relationship between the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern and the coefficient of the masking effect obtained in a case where the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern was 150 cpd is indicated by “the combination of white square marks and a thin-line curve”.
  • the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern when the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern is in a range of 5 to 20 cpd, a relatively high coefficient of the masking effect is obtained. In other words, from the viewpoint of obtaining a high masking effect, it is preferable that the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern is within a range of 5 to 20 cpd. As indicated by the thick-line curves in FIGS. 6 and 8 , from the viewpoint of making it more difficult for the observer 50 to perceive the horizontal stripe pattern, it is more preferable that the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern is within a range of 10 to 20 cpd, and it is further preferable that the spatial frequency of the horizontal stripe pattern is 20 cpd.
  • the horizontal axis represents the spatial frequency of the vertical stripe pattern
  • the vertical axis represents the amplitude of the vertical stripe pattern.
  • the amplitude that is coincident with the luminance (here, 100 cd/m 2 ) at the center of the amplitude of the vertical stripe pattern is set to be a reference value (here, 1) of the JND of unevenness.
  • this JND of unevenness was about 0.0017.
  • the JND of unevenness exceeds 0.02 which corresponds to a luminance variation of 2%.
  • it is necessary that the JND of unevenness is increased by about 12 times ( 0.02/0.0017) with respect to the spatial frequency of the luminance variation at which the sensitivity of human eyes is highest.
  • FIG. 11 a vertical stripe pattern and a horizontal stripe pattern were superimposed on each other, on the screen of the display unit 30 .
  • the vertical stripe pattern is represented by a sine wave in which increase and decrease in luminance along the X direction have an amplitude of a fixed multiple of 10 ⁇ X and a constant spatial frequency.
  • the horizontal stripe pattern is represented by a sine wave in which increase and decrease in luminance along the Y direction have an amplitude of a fixed multiple of 10 ⁇ y and a constant spatial frequency.
  • the observer 50 identified, on the screen, a boundary line between a region where the presence of the vertical stripe pattern was visible and a region where it was invisible, as indicated by the thick line in FIG. 11 .
  • FIG. 11 it was revealed that, in the boundary line, the amplitude of the vertical stripe pattern and the amplitude of the horizontal stripe pattern are proportionate to each other until the amplitude of the vertical stripe pattern becomes too small.
  • the coefficient of the masking effect is increased by about 80 times and the JND of unevenness is increased by 80 times when a horizontal stripe pattern whose spatial frequency is 20 cpd and whose amplitude centered at a predetermined luminance is 0.4 times this predetermined luminance is superimposed on the vertical stripe pattern.
  • a situation where a luminance variation is about 10% may often occur, though depending on a manufacturing method.
  • a luminance variation that is intentionally generated has a spatial frequency of 20 cpd and an amplitude exceeds about 0.3 times the predetermined luminance that is at the center of this amplitude.
  • the illumination device 1 is a tabletop illumination device, in general, the eyes of the user are distant from the surface light emitter 10 by about 40 to 100 cm. In a case where the illumination device 1 is an illumination device provided on a ceiling, in general, the eyes of the user are distant from the surface light emitter 10 by about 100 to 300 cm. Therefore, it is preferable that, in accordance with uses of the illumination device 1 , the number of times (the unit is cycle/cm, for example) a luminance variation occurs per unit length in the surface light emitter 10 is set such that the spatial frequency of the luminance variation is 5 to 20 cpd.
  • a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude is intentionally achieved. This can suppress uneven light emission that the user may perceive. Particularly, when the luminance variation intentionally generated has a spatial frequency of 5 to 20 cpd, the uneven light emission that the user may perceive can be efficiently suppressed.
  • the light emission layer 13 interposed between the lower electrode layer 12 and the upper electrode layer 14 is configured to have a spatially periodic thickness variation with a substantially constant amplitude, a spatially periodic luminance variation with a substantially constant amplitude is intentionally generated. Accordingly, the uneven light emission that the user may perceive can be suppressed with a relatively simple configuration.
  • a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude is intentionally achieved by means of a variation in the thickness of the light emission layer 13 , this is not limiting.
  • a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude can be intentionally achieved by means of other configurations. In the following, specific examples (first to fourth modifications) of the other configurations will be described.
  • FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an exemplary configuration of a surface light emitter 10 A of an illumination device 1 A according to a first modification.
  • the surface light emitter 10 A is basically identical to the surface light emitter 10 according to the embodiment described above, except that the lower electrode layer 12 , the light emission layer 13 , and the upper electrode layer 14 are replaced with a lower electrode layer 12 A, a light emission layer 13 A, and a upper electrode layer 14 A, respectively.
  • the lower electrode layer 12 A includes a plurality of lower electrode layers (also referred to as divided lower electrode layers) 12 a1 to 12 an that are configured by the lower electrode layer 12 according to the embodiment described above being divided at predetermined intervals into n (n is a natural number equal to or greater than two) parts. Each pair of neighboring ones of the divided lower electrode layer 12 a1 to 12 an are separated from each other, and not electrically connected.
  • the light emission layer 13 A includes a plurality of light emission layers (also referred to as divided light emission layers) 13 a1 to 13 an that are configured by the light emission layer 13 according to the embodiment described above being divided at predetermined intervals. Each pair of neighboring ones of the divided light emission layer 13 a1 to 13 an are separated from each other.
  • the upper electrode layer 14 A includes a plurality of upper electrode layers (also referred to as divided upper electrode layer) 14 a1 to 14 an that are configured by the upper electrode layer 14 according to the embodiment described above being divided at predetermined intervals. Each pair of neighboring ones of the divided upper electrode layer 14 a1 to 14 an are separated from each other, and not electrically connected.
  • the divided lower electrode layer 12 a1 , the divided light emission layer 13 a1 , and the divided upper electrode layer 14 a1 are laminated in this order, into a single light-emittable part (also referred to as a light emission unit) 1 A 1 .
  • a single light-emittable part also referred to as a light emission unit 1 A 1 .
  • the divided lower electrode layer 12 aN , the divided light emission layer 13 aN , and the divided upper electrode layer 14 aN are laminated in this order into a single light emission unit 1 A N .
  • the surface light emitter 10 A is structured such that n light emission units 1 A 1 to 1 A n are sequentially arranged along one direction (here, along the X direction) on the other main surface (here, the surface at the +Z side) of the transparent base plate 11 .
  • the n light emission units 1 A 1 to 1 A n are arranged along the X direction in a spatially periodic manner.
  • each divided upper electrode layer 14 aN includes a portion (also referred to as a planar arrayed portion) that is planarly arrayed on one main surface (the surface at the +Z side) of the divided light emission layer 13 aN , and a portion (also referred to as a falling-down portion) that is provided at the ⁇ X side and falls down in the ⁇ Z direction from the planar arrayed portion.
  • the falling-down portion of each divided upper electrode layer 14 a(M+1) serves as one end portion that is electrically connected to one end portion of the divided lower electrode layer 12 aM .
  • the power feeding portion 21 is electrically connected to one end portion (the end portion at the +X side) of the divided lower electrode layer 12 an
  • the power feeding portion 22 is electrically connected to one end portion (the end portion at the ⁇ X side) of the divided upper electrode layer 14 a1 . Accordingly, when a voltage is applied between the power feeding portion 21 and the power feeding portion 22 , a voltage is applied, in each light emission unit 1 A N , between one end portion (the end portion at the +X side) of the divided lower electrode layer 12 aN and one end portion (the end portion at the ⁇ X side) of the divided upper electrode layer 14 aN .
  • the electrical resistance of the divided lower electrode layer 12 aN in one direction is set higher than the electrical resistance of the divided upper electrode layer 14 aN in one direction (here, in the +X direction).
  • Such setting of the electrical resistance is achieved by, for example, appropriately adjusting at least one of the thickness and the material of each divided upper electrode layer 14 aN and each divided lower electrode layer 12 aN .
  • An adjustment of the thickness of a layer is achieved by, for example, a film formation time period in a vapor-deposition process, a sputtering process, or the like.
  • a change of the material of a layer is achieved by, for example, changing a target material in a sputtering process.
  • the illumination device 1 A when a voltage is applied between the power feeding portion 21 and the power feeding portion 22 , a voltage is applied between the divided lower electrode layer 12 aN and the divided upper electrode layer 14 aN having the divided light emission layer 13 aN interposed therebetween in each light emission unit 1 A N .
  • the voltage applied between the divided lower electrode layer 12 aN and the divided upper electrode layer 14 aN drops at a location farther from one end portion (here, the +X side) and closer to the other end portion (here, at the ⁇ X side), due to a relatively high electrical resistance of the divided lower electrode layer 12 aN .
  • a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude occurs in the light-emitting surface of the surface light emitter 10 A in accordance with the voltage drop in each light emission unit 1 A N .
  • FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a luminance variation occurring in the light-emitting surface of the surface light emitter 10 A.
  • the horizontal axis represents a position in the X direction
  • the vertical axis represents the luminance.
  • a luminance variation occurring in the light-emitting surface along with a position change in the X direction is indicated by the thick line.
  • FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an exemplary configuration of a surface light emitter 10 B of an illumination device 1 B according to a second modification.
  • the surface light emitter 10 B is basically identical to the surface light emitter 10 according to the embodiment described above, except that the lower electrode layer 12 , the light emission layer 13 , the upper electrode layer 14 , and the power feeding portion 21 are replaced with a lower electrode layer 12 B, a light emission layer 13 B, an upper electrode layer 14 B, and a power feeding portion 21 B, respectively.
  • the power feeding portion 21 B is provided in the form of a layer on the other main surface (here, the surface at the +Z side) of the transparent base plate 11 .
  • FIG. 15 is a plan view schematically showing an exemplary configuration of the power feeding portion 21 B. As shown in FIG. 15 , the power feeding portion 21 B includes two main wirings 211 B and 212 B, and n (n is a natural number equal to or greater than two) sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn .
  • the two main wirings 211 B and 212 B extend along the X direction, and are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction.
  • the other main surface (here, the surface at the +Z side) of the transparent base plate 11 has first and second outer edges opposed to each other.
  • the main wiring 211 B extends near the first outer edge and along the first outer edge.
  • the main wiring 212 B extends near the second outer edge and along the second outer edge.
  • Each of the n sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn extends along the Y direction from the main wiring 211 B to the main wiring 212 B.
  • the n sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn are sequentially arranged at predetermined intervals therebetween. More specifically, the n sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn are arranged spatially periodically in the X direction.
  • the n sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn are electrically connected to the power supply 2 via the two main wirings 211 B and 212 B.
  • This power feeding portion 21 B can be made by, for example, forming a film through a vapor-deposition process, a sputtering process, or the like, with use of a metal mask.
  • a material of the power feeding portion 21 B may be a transparent material such as ITO, or may be a good conductor such as copper.
  • the material of the power feeding portion 21 B has an electrical resistivity lower than that of the material of the lower electrode layer 12 B.
  • the lower electrode layer 12 B is formed on the other main surface (here, the surface at the +Z side) of the transparent base plate 11 , on which the power feeding portion 21 B is provided, in a substantially flat shape such that the lower electrode layer 12 B covers the n sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn .
  • the n sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn are electrically connected to the lower electrode layer 12 B.
  • the n sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn apply a voltage between the lower electrode layer 12 B and the upper electrode layer 14 B.
  • the electrical resistance of the lower electrode layer 12 B in one direction is set higher than the electrical resistance of the upper electrode layer 14 B in one direction (here, in the +X direction).
  • Such setting of the electrical resistance is achieved by, for example, appropriately adjusting at least one of the thickness and the material of each of the upper electrode layer 14 B and the lower electrode layer 12 B.
  • An adjustment of the thickness of a layer is achieved by, for example, a film formation time period in a vapor-deposition process, a sputtering process, or the like.
  • a change of the material of a layer is achieved by, for example, changing a target material in a sputtering process.
  • the light emission layer 13 B is formed on the lower electrode layer 12 B, with a substantially uniform thickness.
  • the upper electrode layer 14 B is formed on the light emission layer 13 B, with a substantially uniform thickness.
  • the illumination device 1 B when a voltage is applied between the power feeding portion 21 B and the power feeding portion 22 , a voltage is applied between the lower electrode layer 12 B and the upper electrode layer 14 B. At this time, the voltage applied between the lower electrode layer 12 B and the upper electrode layer 14 B drops at a location farther from each of the sub wiring 21 b1 to 21 bn , due to a relatively high electrical resistance of the lower electrode layer 12 B.
  • a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude occurs in the light-emitting surface of the surface light emitter 10 B in accordance with the voltage drop centered at each sub wiring 21 b1 to 21 bn .
  • FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a luminance variation occurring in the light-emitting surface of the surface light emitter 10 B.
  • the horizontal axis represents a position in the X direction
  • the vertical axis represents the luminance.
  • a luminance variation occurring in the light-emitting surface along with a position change in the X direction is indicated by the thick line.
  • the n sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn are not transparent, the luminance drops because of light shielding caused by the presence of the n sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn .
  • illustration of such a luminance drop is omitted in FIG. 16 .
  • FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an exemplary configuration of a surface light emitter 10 C of an illumination device 1 C according to a third modification.
  • the surface light emitter 10 C is basically identical to the surface light emitter 10 according to the embodiment described above, except that the light emission layer 13 and the upper electrode layer 14 are replaced with a light emission layer 13 C and an upper electrode layer 14 C, respectively, and that a pattern portion 15 C is additionally provided.
  • the light emission layer 13 C is formed on the lower electrode layer 12 , with a substantially uniform thickness.
  • the upper electrode layer 14 C is formed on the light emission layer 13 C, with a substantially uniform thickness.
  • FIG. 18 is a bottom view schematically showing an exemplary configuration of the pattern portion 15 C.
  • the pattern portion 15 C is structured such that n linear patterns 15 c1 to 15 cn each extending along the Y direction are arranged sequentially in the X direction on one main surface (here, the surface at the ⁇ Z side) of the transparent base plate 11 .
  • n linear patterns 15 c1 to 15 cn extending along another direction (Here, in the Y direction) substantially perpendicular to one direction (here, in the X direction) are arranged spatially periodically in the one direction (X direction).
  • this pattern portion 15 C may be a ground glass pattern portion formed by etching one main surface of the transparent base plate 11 , or may be a concave or convex portion.
  • the pattern portion 15 C may be a transparent film with the n patterns 15 c1 to 15 cn being formed on one main surface of the transparent base plate 11 .
  • the transparent film the one is conceivable in which, for causing no light loss, the n patterns 15 c1 to 15 cn transmit light in a predetermined direction (for example, in a normal direction of the film) while the other portions transmit light in various directions.
  • This pattern portion 15 C can cause a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude to occur in the light-emitting surface of the surface light emitter 10 C, when the surface light emitter 10 C emits light.
  • This luminance variation may be, for example, at least one or a combination of continuous increase and decrease in luminance, discrete and linear increase and decrease in luminance, discrete and point-like increase and decrease in luminance.
  • FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an exemplary configuration of a surface light emitter 10 D of an illumination device 1 D according to a fourth modification.
  • the surface light emitter 10 D is basically identical to the surface light emitter 10 according to the embodiment described above, except that the transparent base plate 11 , the light emission layer 13 , and the upper electrode layer 14 are replaced with a transparent base plate 11 D, a light emission layer 13 D, and an upper electrode layer 14 D, respectively.
  • the light emission layer 13 D is formed on the lower electrode layer 12 , with a substantially uniform thickness.
  • the upper electrode layer 14 D is formed on the light emission layer 13 D, with a substantially uniform thickness.
  • the transparent base plate 11 D has roughly a flat plate shape, and includes one main surface (the surface at the ⁇ Z side) and the other main surface (the surface at the +Z side). In the one main surface, spatially periodic concavities and convexities having a substantially constant amplitude are provided. The other main surface is substantially flat.
  • the transparent base plate 11 D is structured such that n linear concavities 11 d1 to 11 dn extending along the Y direction are arranged sequentially in the X direction on the one main surface of the transparent base plate 11 .
  • the n linear concavities 11 d1 to 11 dn extending along another direction (here, in the Y direction) substantially perpendicular to one direction (here, in the X direction) are arranged spatially periodically in the one direction (X direction).
  • the transparent base plate 11 D Due to the concavities and convexities provided in the transparent base plate 11 D, as indicated by the black arrows in FIG. 19 , when light generated by the light emission layer 13 D transmits through the transparent base plate 11 D, concentration and diffusion of the light occurs because of refraction in the one main surface (the surface at the ⁇ Z side) of the transparent base plate 11 D. As a result, when the surface light emitter 10 D emits light, a spatially periodic luminance variation having a substantially constant amplitude occurs in the light-emitting surface of the surface light emitter 10 D.
  • a luminance variation with another luminance variation having a different spatial frequency being superimposed thereon.
  • Three or more kinds of luminance variations may be superimposed.
  • the relationship between the different spatial frequencies of the luminance variations superimposed on each other is an integer multiple.
  • Such spatially periodic luminance variations are achieved by, for example, applying, to a luminance variation, at least one of a triangular wave and a square wave containing a plurality of wave components whose spatial frequencies have the relationship of an integer multiple.
  • Intentionally generating a luminance variation in which luminance variations having different spatial frequencies are superimposed on each other is achieved by, for example, appropriately adjusting the configurations according to the embodiment described above and the first to fourth modifications described above. To be specific, it is achieved by at least one or a combination of: an adjustment of the thickness of the light emission layer 13 according to the embodiment described above; an adjustment of the arraying of the plurality of light emission units 1 A 1 to 1 A n according to the first modification described above; an adjustment of the arraying of the plurality of sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 bn according to the second modification described above; an adjustment of the pattern according to the third modification described above; and an adjustment of the concavities and convexities of the transparent base plate 11 D according to the fourth modification described above.
  • a luminance variation in which spatially periodic luminance variations having substantially constant amplitudes and occurring in two or more directions are superimposed on each other.
  • the angle formed between the first direction and the second direction may be any angle more than 0° and not more than 90°.
  • Intentionally generating a luminance variation in which luminance variations in two or more different directions are superimposed on each other is achieved by, for example, appropriately adjusting the configurations according to the embodiment described above and the first to fourth modifications described above. To be specific, it is achieved by at least one or a combination of: an adjustment of the thickness of the light emission layer 13 according to the embodiment described above; an adjustment of the arraying of the plurality of light emission units 1 A 1 to 1 A n according to the first modification described above; an adjustment of the arraying of the plurality of sub wirings 21 b1 to 21 b according to the second modification described above; an adjustment of the pattern according to the third modification described above; and an adjustment of the concavities and convexities of the transparent base plate 11 D according to the fourth modification described above.
  • the surface light emitter 10 , 10 A to 10 D has a substantially planar shape. However, this is not limiting, and the surface light emitter 10 , 10 A to 10 D may have various surface shape such as a curved surface shape.
  • a luminance variation may be intentionally generated by providing a light shield having a spatially periodic array for shielding light on a light path extending from the generation of light in the light emission layer 13 , 13 A to 13 D to the exit of the light in the transparent base plate 11 , 11 D.
  • the light shield having a spatially periodic array is achieved by, for example, a method in which an insulator, or the like, that does not allow a visible light beam to transmit therethrough is formed at an arbitrary position in a region extending from the light emission layer 13 , 13 A to 13 D to the one main surface of the transparent base plate 11 , 11 D through a vapor-deposition process, a sputtering, or the like, with use of a metal mask.
  • the technical idea of the present invention is applicable generally to an illumination device that performs surface light emission.
  • 1, 1A to 1D illumination device 1A 1 to 1A N light emission unit 10, 10A to 10D surface light emitter 11, 11D transparent base plate 11 d1 to 11 dn concavity 12, 12A, 12B lower electrode layer 12 a1 to 12 an , 12 aM , 12 aN divided lower electrode layer 13, 13A to 13D light emission layer 13 a1 to 13 an , 13 aN divided light emission layer 14, 14A to 14D upper electrode layer 14 a1 to 14 an , 14 aM , 14 aN divided upper electrode layer 21 b1 to 21 bn sub wiring 21, 21B, 22 power feeding portion 211B, 212B main wiring

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International Search Report in International Application No. PCT/JP2011/062715, mailed Sep. 6, 2011, 2 pages.

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EP2579683A1 (de) 2013-04-10
WO2011152496A1 (ja) 2011-12-08
EP2579683B1 (de) 2020-06-03
JP5067518B2 (ja) 2012-11-07
US20130058086A1 (en) 2013-03-07
JPWO2011152496A1 (ja) 2013-08-01
EP2579683A4 (de) 2017-07-26

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